This is a true story of a young woman who went through the most gruesome fire. When you read her story, you’ll realize that your trials are absolutely nothing compared to what this young girl went through.
It was September 25, 2000. Maricel Apatan was an 11-year old girl in Zamboanga. On that day, this little girl went with her uncle to draw water.
Along the way, four men met them. They were carrying long knives. They told her uncle to face down on the ground, and they hacked him on the neck and killed him.
Maricel was in total shock, especially that the men were their neighbors. She tried to escape, but the men ran after her.
She cried, “Kuya, ‘wag po, ‘wag n’yo akong tagain! Maawa po kayo sa akin!” (“Don’t kill me! Have mercy on me!”)
But they weren’t listening. With a long knife, a man slashed her on the neck too.
Maricel fell to the ground and lost consciousness.
When she woke up, she saw a lot of blood. She also saw the feet of the men around her, but she pretended to be dead.
When they walked away, Maricel ran back home. But along the way, she saw that both her hands were falling off. Because the men hacked them too. She cried but she kept running.
Sometimes, she would faint and fall to the ground. But she’d regain consciousness and run again.
When she was near her home, Maricel called her mother.
Upon seeing her daughter, her mother screamed in terror. She wrapped her bloodied child in a blanket and carried her to the hospital.
Here was the problem: From her house to the highway, it was a 12-kilometer walk. It took them 4 hours just to reach the highway.
When they arrived in the hospital, the doctors thought Maricel was going to die. But for 5 hours, they operated on her. It took 25 stitches to stitch together the long knife wound in her neck and back.
Maricel barely survived. And she lost both of her hands.
Ironically, the next day was Maricel’s birthday. She was 12 years old.
But tragedy didn’t end there. When they went home, they saw their home was gone. It was ransacked and burned down by the goons.
Being very poor, Maricel’s family also didn’t have P50,000 for their hospital bills.
But God sent many angels along the way to help them.
Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, a distant relative, paid for hospital bills and helped them bring the criminals to court. They were sentenced to prison.
Today, she’s staying with the nuns at Regina Rosarii with Sr. Eppie Brasil, O.P.
But this is the incredible miracle. Instead of staying down, Maricel kept running.
Instead of cursing God why she had no hands, she now uses her wrists in incredible ways that will boggle your mind.
Maricel Apatan
Maricel was cited as the most industrious, best in computer, and most courteous in the School for Crippled Children.
In 2008, she graduated from a course in Hotel and Restaurant Management. She even received a Gold medal for Arts and Crafts.
In 2011, she finished her education to be a chef. Yes, a Chef without hands.
Nothing can stop this young lady from reaching her dreams.
Real Winners Don’t Give Up!
From India, Mumbai
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128It was September 25, 2000. Maricel Apatan was an 11-year old girl in Zamboanga. On that day, this little girl went with her uncle to draw water.
Along the way, four men met them. They were carrying long knives. They told her uncle to face down on the ground, and they hacked him on the neck and killed him.
Maricel was in total shock, especially that the men were their neighbors. She tried to escape, but the men ran after her.
She cried, “Kuya, ‘wag po, ‘wag n’yo akong tagain! Maawa po kayo sa akin!” (“Don’t kill me! Have mercy on me!”)
But they weren’t listening. With a long knife, a man slashed her on the neck too.
Maricel fell to the ground and lost consciousness.
When she woke up, she saw a lot of blood. She also saw the feet of the men around her, but she pretended to be dead.
When they walked away, Maricel ran back home. But along the way, she saw that both her hands were falling off. Because the men hacked them too. She cried but she kept running.
Sometimes, she would faint and fall to the ground. But she’d regain consciousness and run again.
When she was near her home, Maricel called her mother.
Upon seeing her daughter, her mother screamed in terror. She wrapped her bloodied child in a blanket and carried her to the hospital.
Here was the problem: From her house to the highway, it was a 12-kilometer walk. It took them 4 hours just to reach the highway.
When they arrived in the hospital, the doctors thought Maricel was going to die. But for 5 hours, they operated on her. It took 25 stitches to stitch together the long knife wound in her neck and back.
Maricel barely survived. And she lost both of her hands.
Ironically, the next day was Maricel’s birthday. She was 12 years old.
But tragedy didn’t end there. When they went home, they saw their home was gone. It was ransacked and burned down by the goons.
Being very poor, Maricel’s family also didn’t have P50,000 for their hospital bills.
But God sent many angels along the way to help them.
Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, a distant relative, paid for hospital bills and helped them bring the criminals to court. They were sentenced to prison.
Today, she’s staying with the nuns at Regina Rosarii with Sr. Eppie Brasil, O.P.
But this is the incredible miracle. Instead of staying down, Maricel kept running.
Instead of cursing God why she had no hands, she now uses her wrists in incredible ways that will boggle your mind.
Maricel Apatan
Maricel was cited as the most industrious, best in computer, and most courteous in the School for Crippled Children.
In 2008, she graduated from a course in Hotel and Restaurant Management. She even received a Gold medal for Arts and Crafts.
In 2011, she finished her education to be a chef. Yes, a Chef without hands.
Nothing can stop this young lady from reaching her dreams.
Real Winners Don’t Give Up!
From India, Mumbai
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That's a good one, Anita P Panicker.
Reminds me of a poem titled "Don't Quit" -- not sure who wrote it:
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low, and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit --
Rest if you must, but Don't you Quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns,
And many a fellow turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out.
Don't give up though the pace seems slow --
You may succeed with another blow.
Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up,
When he might have captured the victor's cup,
And he learned too late when the night came down,
How close he was to the golden crown.
Success is failure turned inside out --
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you are hardest hit --
It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit.
Regards,
TS
From India, Hyderabad
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Reminds me of a poem titled "Don't Quit" -- not sure who wrote it:
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low, and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit --
Rest if you must, but Don't you Quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns,
And many a fellow turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out.
Don't give up though the pace seems slow --
You may succeed with another blow.
Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up,
When he might have captured the victor's cup,
And he learned too late when the night came down,
How close he was to the golden crown.
Success is failure turned inside out --
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you are hardest hit --
It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit.
Regards,
TS
From India, Hyderabad
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Hi Tajsateesh,
Thanks for sharing a very sweet poem that can resonate with every individual's life. This poem was originally posted anonymously, as the author preferred not to disclose his identity. The name of the author is G. Haughey.
The story behind this poem involves a young man named Gerard Haughey, who had a passion for writing poetry as a hobby. Although he often wrote poems for his "girlfriend" and even for his "wife" now, Gerard's poem "Don't Quit" was not initially intended for a wide audience. It simply evolved that way, according to him. The poem, which had good intentions from the start, unexpectedly gained significant popularity in the world.
Gerard worked at New York Hospital between 1992 and 1999. During a night shift sometime within those years, he penned "Don't Quit." Initially, this famous poem was just one among many posted on a bulletin board in Unit 4 South, a psychiatric in-patient unit at the hospital. Gerard, who worked as a "Mental Health Worker," found solace in writing poems for the patients despite the challenges he faced in his job.
The poem's journey began when someone discovered "Don't Quit," leading to its widespread recognition. Gerard explains that he chose to post his poems anonymously to avoid any professional repercussions, as openly expressing emotions might have been misinterpreted. This secret activity of posting poems was his personal connection with a higher power and remained undisclosed to his colleagues.
Gerard now wishes to reveal his identity to the world and share his story.
Regards,
Anita
From India, Mumbai
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Thanks for sharing a very sweet poem that can resonate with every individual's life. This poem was originally posted anonymously, as the author preferred not to disclose his identity. The name of the author is G. Haughey.
The story behind this poem involves a young man named Gerard Haughey, who had a passion for writing poetry as a hobby. Although he often wrote poems for his "girlfriend" and even for his "wife" now, Gerard's poem "Don't Quit" was not initially intended for a wide audience. It simply evolved that way, according to him. The poem, which had good intentions from the start, unexpectedly gained significant popularity in the world.
Gerard worked at New York Hospital between 1992 and 1999. During a night shift sometime within those years, he penned "Don't Quit." Initially, this famous poem was just one among many posted on a bulletin board in Unit 4 South, a psychiatric in-patient unit at the hospital. Gerard, who worked as a "Mental Health Worker," found solace in writing poems for the patients despite the challenges he faced in his job.
The poem's journey began when someone discovered "Don't Quit," leading to its widespread recognition. Gerard explains that he chose to post his poems anonymously to avoid any professional repercussions, as openly expressing emotions might have been misinterpreted. This secret activity of posting poems was his personal connection with a higher power and remained undisclosed to his colleagues.
Gerard now wishes to reveal his identity to the world and share his story.
Regards,
Anita
From India, Mumbai
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That's a nice backgrounder, Anita. Like they say: every BIG thought/action has a humble/innocuous beginning. Those involved/associated with the 'beginning' wouldn't have had the faintest idea of where their efforts would lead to.
Thanks & Regards,
TS
From India, Hyderabad
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Thanks & Regards,
TS
From India, Hyderabad
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Hi Anita and TS,
Motivating wonderful inputs from both of you. Maricel may not have active hands. By her deeds, she has surpassed the vast majority of those who have hands. After reading this, my hand salutes her courage, determination, motivation, and the will to help others. I hope many other hands will.
V. Raghunathan
Navi Mumbai
From India
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Motivating wonderful inputs from both of you. Maricel may not have active hands. By her deeds, she has surpassed the vast majority of those who have hands. After reading this, my hand salutes her courage, determination, motivation, and the will to help others. I hope many other hands will.
V. Raghunathan
Navi Mumbai
From India
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Hello Anita & Tajsateesh,
What a heart-rending story, Anita, and it is a glowing example of how a 'never-failing resolve and optimism' made her vanquish death and embrace life all again. The poem quoted by Tajsateesh aptly reinforces this belief. Though I do not vividly remember the words, Saul Palo in his famous book "Alchemist" said if you are determined and positive, nature conspires to help you. This became true in the case of Maricel. Thanks for sharing.
B. Saikumar
Mumbai
From India, Mumbai
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What a heart-rending story, Anita, and it is a glowing example of how a 'never-failing resolve and optimism' made her vanquish death and embrace life all again. The poem quoted by Tajsateesh aptly reinforces this belief. Though I do not vividly remember the words, Saul Palo in his famous book "Alchemist" said if you are determined and positive, nature conspires to help you. This became true in the case of Maricel. Thanks for sharing.
B. Saikumar
Mumbai
From India, Mumbai
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